Two seriously ill crew members on a cruise ship affected by a suspected hantavirus outbreak will be evacuated via Cape Verde to the Netherlands, the operator said Tuesday. The vessel, which had been held off the coast of West Africa, will then be allowed to proceed to Spain's Canary Islands.
Spain's health ministry confirmed the evacuation plan, stating that the two patients are in stable condition. The ship, operated by a major cruise line, had been quarantined after several crew members reported symptoms consistent with hantavirus, including fever, muscle aches, and respiratory distress.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially fatal disease transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. The outbreak is believed to have originated from contaminated food supplies on board. The ship's operator is cooperating with health authorities to sanitize the vessel and ensure the safety of remaining crew and passengers.
No passengers were reported to be affected, and the ship is expected to resume its itinerary after a thorough cleaning. The World Health Organization has been notified of the incident, though no global health alert has been issued.
